Taper charge regulator



W. L. BLISS.

TAPER CHARGE REGULAOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1911.

, Patented.' @et 5,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. L. BLISS.

TAPER CHARGE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION ELLED APR. 29. 1911.

1,354,798, Patented 0015. 5,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7%... 6W, gygw;

UNITED STATES PATENToFFICE.

WILLIAM BLISS, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY IHESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO U. S. LIGHT AND HEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAPEB. CHARGE REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 5, 1920.

Application filed April 29, 1911. Serial No. 624,109.

T 0 aU whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLnui L. BLISS, a

citizen of the -nited States, residing at Niagara, Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Taper Charge Regulators, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being 'had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a taper charge 'regulator and toa system employing such a regulator. The regulator is adapted for use in systems wherein a generator and storage battery are employed. y

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a system wherein the generator is regulated to maintain constant current during the charging of the bat-tery, and wherein the battery charging current is reduced ortapered off after the battery has become fully charged. Another object is to provide a regulator for furnishing such regulation. A further object of the invent-ion is to provide an organized structure in` cluding a plurality of devices which cooperate with each other in the regulation of a system such 'as outlinedand which are preferably mounted on a common panel or base.

The accompanying drawings Show a car lighting system including a regulator, which will serve to illustrate the application of my invention. Of course the invention may be embodied in other systems andv apparatus. y

Referring to the drawings- Figure l illustrates a car lighting system;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate modiiied connections for a portion of the regulator;

F ig. 5 illustrates the taper charge relay in elevation.

In the system illustrated, a variable speed generator is shown having an armature 1 and shunt I'ield coils 2. The external circuit includes the storage battery 3, and the lamp circuit 4 connected in parallel branches. The variable pressure rheostat 5 is connected in the generator shunt field cir- (uit to vary the resistance of the same.

`This rheostat consists of a' series of contacting carbon plates, or other plates, adapted v circuit and adapted proximately equals the battery -automatic switch 13 is provided.

to have the pressure thereof varied by a bell crank lever 6, which is operated by a plunger 7 controlled normally by a current responsive coil S connected in the external circuit of the generator and also controlled, under certain conditions, by a voltage responsive coil 9 connected in a shuntcircuit across the generator terminals. A dash pot is provided to Steady the acti-on of the plunger and associated parts. Yhen the generator armature is at rest, the resistance of the field circuit is a minimum as the plunger is/in its lowermost position producing the maximum pressure on the carbon plates., The pressure may be increased by the luse of a spring, if desired.

The shunt coil 9 is normally short-circuited by a resilient short-circuit-ing reed 10, but is connected in circuit when said reed Vis attracted b v the voltage responsivev coil 11 connected in shunt across the external to vibrate said reed for regulating purposes. as hereinafter described. An auxiliary coil 12 may be used to compensate for they varying reluctance of the air-gap and thereby increase the sensitiveness of the short-circuiting device. Suitable fuses 12 are also provided.

In order to close the external circuit of A the generator to the battery and lamps when the generator voltage increases until-it ap' voltage, an The automatic switch has a voltage responsive shunt connected lifting coil .14 and a series connected releasing coil 15. When the automatic switch is open, 'a resistance 16 is short-circuited by a pivoted lever 17. IVheu the automatic switch is closed, the resistance 16 is connected in series with the shunt coil 14 to prevent undue heating and consequentincrease in resistance in said coil,v The resistance also reduces the strength ofl said coil so that the automatic switch will fall open readily when the battery discharges through the releasing coil V15, as hereinafter described.

For the purpose of insuring proper iiiitial excitation of the generator-` the field coils 2 are included in a circuit around the battery. which includes the resistance 1S. to prevent unnecessary waste of battery cui'- rent. Any suitable form of resistance 19 may be provided for the lamp circuit to prevent an excessive voltage from being impressed on the lamps.

Assuming that this is approximately a 60 volt system, or one employing a 32- cell battery, the operation will be substantially as follows: The generator voltage builds up v vnow regulates the 'generator field circuit to maintain substantially constant the current delivered by the generator. rlhe shunt coil 9 is inert, being short circuited.

When the generator voltage rises to"8'0 volts, for example, due to the increasing counter-electro-motive force of the battery,

the reed 10 vibrates rapidly, due to the increased energization of voltage responsive coil 1l and makes and breaks the short circuit around the shunt coil 9. rlhis reed makes and breaks a practically non-inductive circuit and hence there is little sparking at the contacts. In consequence, the con tacts do not deteriorate rapidly. The reed merely short circuits the coil, but not the resistance in series with the coil, hence there is no short circuit across the main circuit.

The operation of the relay may be described by considering the actions which tend to take lplace when it is in operation., "hen the voltage tends to rise about 80 volts, the reed is drawn down, thereby opening the short circuit and causing coil 9 to act cumulatively with series coil 8 and tending to increase the resistance 5, which in turn tends to decrease the field strength of the generator, and consequently the generator voltage.Y The tendency of the generator voltage to decrease, causes the voltage coil 11 to release the reed and allow it to spring back and again short circuit the coil 9, whereupon the resistance 5 is decreased, thereby tending to increase the lield .strength and the voltage of the generator.

This cycle' is repeated very rapidly, and the result isthat the generator tends to hold down its voltage. A very slight variation in the voltage of the generator is sufficient' to attract or release the reed.

When the shunt coil .9 becomes effective,

' z the current delivered by the generator, and

consequently the battery charging current diminish, producing a tapering of the battery charging current. During this period, the effect is a mixed current and voltage regulation, the generator voltage rising gradually from about 80 to 85 volts.

rlhe tapering of thebattery charging current is greater proportionately than the invln order to facilitate the attraction and release of the reed, the auxiliary coil 12 is provided, which may be connected in cir--j lcuit in a variety of ways to perform this function. ln F ig. 1 it is connected in. a parallel branch with the shunt coil 9, and therefore is normally inert, being shortcircuited by the reed 10 in the same manner that said shunt coil A9 is short-circuited. ll'hen the reed is attracted by the voltage winding l1.` the short circuit is opened. Both the coils 9 and 12 are therefore energized simultaneously, and the latter coilopposes the voltage winding 11 to permit the Y reed 10 to spring back quickly. In Fig-2 .it is connected so as to assist the voltage -co'il 11 in drawing down the resilient reed, but is open circuited and rendered inert as soon as said reed is drawn down. In Fig., 3 it is connected in series with the shunt winding l9 and is energized when the reed .is drawn down, to oppose the voltage winding 11 and ermit a rapid returnof the reed.

`In Fig. 4 t e auxiliary coil assists the voltage coil in drawing down the reed, but is weakened by being connected in series with the shunt coil 9 when the reed is drawn down.

storage battery to regulateV for constant total current, it may, of course, be otherwise connected where ak ydifferent result is desired.

Inasmuch as the car on which the gen-- erator is mounted, may run in either direction, it is necessary to provide some form of pole' changing device to insure `proper polarity of the circuit leading from the generator whereby the generator will be charged in theproper direction. The pole changing device is not illustrated but may Qbe of any approved type.

The various devices comprising the regulator, are all preferably mounted on asupporting panel located in a convenient part of the car. By virtue of the features of construction described herein, 'the jarring and vibration, to which the regulator is necessarily subjected, do not interferewith its successful operation. 130

I claim as my inventionl. A taper charge regulator adapted for lnserton in a system in which a varlable speed generator operates to charge a storage.

battery, said regulator comprising a current responsive coil, a voltage responsive coil, a device for normally short circuting said voltage coil,` a second voltage responsive coil for rapidly vibrating said short circuiting device upon predetermined voltage rise to increase the mean value of the magnetizing effect of said first voltage coil as the voltage continues ito rise and a regulating resistance controlled by saidfirst voltage coil and said current coil.

2. A system including a variable speed generator, a storage batteryr and a ta er charge device comprising a shunt coil e ective upon substantial rise in battery counterelectro-motive force to reduce the charging current by varying a resistance in the field v circuit of said generator, said device also comprising a current responsive coil having a continuing cumulative action with said shunt coil. and means for increasing the effectiveness of said shunt. coil at a greater rate than the increase Yin said counter-electromotive force and consequently decreasing said battery charging current in corresponding ratio.

3. A regulator comprising a magnetizing winding acting through certain instrumentalities to maintain lconstant the current output of a generator. a second winding having a continuing cumulative effect with said first winding and with said instrumentalities and responsive when energized to voltage vari-" ations in the system, and controlling means acting upon said second winding for magnifying the magnetizing effect thereof, whereby upon sufiicient increase in voltage the magnetizing effect of said first winding is annulled.

4. A re ulator comprising a variable resistance. e ectromagnetic means for varying said resistance to maintain substantially. constant the effective number of ampere turns of said means. the latter including a current coil and a voltage coil. said voltage coil being normally inert whereby said variable resistance tends to maintain constant current. and a device effective upon predetermined rise in voltage for rendering effective said voltage coil in greater ratio than said rise in voltage whereby the effectiveness of said current coil is rapidly diminished until the voltage regulation predominates.

5. A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance consisting of contacting carbon plates. a plunger and bell crank'lever for varying the pressure on said plates. two solenoids controlling the action of said plunger. and a taper charge relay for rendering effective one of said solenoids when the battery approaches a fully charged condition,

plates, a plunger and bell crank lever for varying the pressure on said plates, two coils controlling the action of said plunger, and a taper charge relay for rendering effective one of said coils upon still further rise in voltage, said taper charge relay comprising a resilient short circuiting device adapted to vibrate, and a voltage responsive winding for vibrating said resilient device and for controlling the character of said vibrations. 7. A taper charge regulating device for a car lighting system. comprising a variable resistance consisting of contacting carbon plates, a plunger and bell crank leverfor varying the pressure on said plates, two solenoids controlling the action of said plunger, and a taper charge relay for'rendering effective one of said solenoids when the battery approaches a fully charged condition to gradually reduce the charging current to Zero. whereby said variable resistance provides current regulation during the normal charging of the battery. mixed regulation during the taper charge and voltage regulation after the battery has become fully charged.

S. A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance for a generator field circuit. a series coil in the external circuit of said generator for operating said variable resistance to maintain substantially constant the generator current, a shunt coil responsive to "oltage variations in the system and adapted to modify the operation of said variable resistance. a shunt circuit around said voltage responsive coil and means for modifying the resistance of said shunt circuit in response to voltage variations in the system to control the operation of said voltage responsive coil, said means and consequently said voltage coil being inert until the battery approaches a fully charged condition.

9. A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance for a generator field circuit, a series coil in the external circuit of said generator for operating said variable resistance to maintain substantially constant the generator output, a shunt coil responsive to voltage variations in the system and adapted to modify the operation of said variable resistance, a shunt circuit around said voltage responsive coil and means including a rapidly vibrating make and break device for modifying the resistance of said shunt circuit in response to voltage variations in -the system to control the operation of said voltage responsive coil, said means and consequently said voltage coil being inert until the battery approaches a fully charged condition. y

10.V A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance for a generator eld circuit, a series coil in the external circuit of said generator for operating said variable resistance to maintain substantially constant the generator output., a shunt coil responsive to voltage variations in the system and adapted to modify the operation of said variable resistance, a shunt circuit around said voltage responsive coil and means including a resilient circuit closing device and a voltageresponsive Winding for vibrating said device for modifying the resistance of -said shunt circuit in response to voltage variations in the system to control the operation of said voltage' responsive coil, said means, and consequently said voltage coil, being inert `until the Abattery approaches a fully charged condition. p

1l. A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance for a generator field circuit, a series'scoil in the external circuit of said generator foroperating, said variable resistance to maint-ain substantially constant the generator output, a shunt coil responsive to .voltage variations in the system and adapted to modify the operation of said variable resistance, a shunt circuit around said voltage responsive coil and means including a vibratile` reed and voltage responsive means for vibrating the same for modifying the resistance of said shunt circuit in response to voltage variations in the system the generator output, a shunt coil responsive to voltage variations in the system and adapted to modify theoperation of said variable resistance, a shunt circuit around said voltage responsive coil and means for modi- :tying the resistance offsaid shunt circuit in response to Voltage variations inthe system to control the operation of said voltage re, sponsive coil, said means including a resilient short circuiting reed and a second volt- -age coil for vibrating said reed, the charac-y ter of the vibrations corresponding tosaid` voltage variations, said 'second coil being operative only above normal battery voltage.

13.v A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance for a generator field circuit,a series coil in the external circuit of l said generator for operatingsaid variable resistance to maintain substantially constant 'the generator output, a shunt coil responsive estims tion.

14e. A taper charge regulator comprising a variable resistance, a series coil for operating said variable resistance to regulate for constant current, two shunt coils in parallel branches connected in a shunt circuit, a short circuiting device for simultaneously short circuiting both of said coils, one of said coils being adapted to modify the action of said series coil and the other of said coils being adapted to quickenQthe action of said short circuiting device.

15. A regulator for a car lighting system. comprising a series of cont-acting resistance plates adapted for connection in a generator ield circuit, a series coil for var ving said resistance and adapted to be connected in the external circuit of said generator, a voltage responsive coil adapted to modify the action of said series coil on said variable resistance but'normally short circuited, a movable member normally short circuiting 'said voltage responsive coil and a second voltagey responsive coil connected across the `c1rcu1t and adapted upon substantial r1se 1n the counter-electromotive force of the battery to vibrate said member and thereby introduce into circuit saicd voltage responsive coil :for successive periods corresponding to the increasing voltage of the system Whereby said variable resistance is increased to gradually reduce the charging current.

16. A taper charge regulator comprising a series of contacting resist-ance plates, a bell crank lever for varying the pressure on said series, a plunger for operating said bell. crank lever, a series connected solenoid and a shunt connected solenoid for controlling the'operation of saidb plunger, said vshunt solenoid being normally short circuited byy a resilient contact member, and a voltage responsive coil'for vibrating saidl resilient contact member to render effective said shunt solenoid for gradually increasing intervals of time whereby, upon suddenmise in battery voltage when the same apprgachesy a ully charged condition; said variable resistance. is increased by said shunt solenoid to gradually reduce the charging current to Ythe battery.

17. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, a shuntvvound generator, a storage battery connected to be charged thereby, a

"resistance device connected with the field a coil serially connected between said enerator and said battery adapted upongthe current therein increasing to so affect said resistance as to weaken the generator field and normally to maintain said current substantially constant, a voltage coil positioned and adapted upon' being energized to have a continuing cumulative effect with said current coil in affecting said variable resistance to weaken said generator field, a circuit in parallel or shunt relation to said voltage coil. and a relay controlled in accordancewith the voltage of said battery and adapted to break said shunt circuit and to thereupon cause an effective currentv to flow in said voltage coil.

1S. In car lighting apparatus. in combination. a shunt wound generator, a storage variable resistance medium comprising a plurality of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with the pressure thereon. said resistance medium-being connected with the field circuit of said generator. a member through which pressure is exerted upon said medium. a pivoted bell-crank lever. one arm of which 1s connected with said member. magnetic actuating means connected with the other arm of said lever. means comprising a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein i11- creasing to attract said actuating means and so vary the pressure upon said resistance as to weaken the generator field. and normally to maintain said current substantially constant. said resistance being normally free from other effective electrical influence. a voltage coil coacting with said actuating means and adapted upon being energized to have a continuing cumulative effect with said current coil in varying the pressure upon said resistance to weaken the generator field. and voltage controlled means adapted to direct an effective flow of said voltage coil.

19. In car lighting apparatus. in combination. a shunt wound generator. a storage battery connected to be charged`thereby, a variable resistancemedium comprising a plurality of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with pressure thereon. said resistance medilmi being connected in the field circuitof said generator. a resistance varying device coacting with said medium and tending to compress the same. said device comprising a pivoted bell-crank lever. one arm of, which is provided with means coacting with said medium and the other arm of which is provided with actuating means. means comprising a coil serially connected bet-ween said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein increasing to so coact with said actuating means as to decrease the prescurrent through lmaintain said current substantially constant,

said resistance being normally free from other effective electrical influence, a voltage coil positioned and adapted upon ybeing energized to have a continuing cumulative eff fect with said current coil in decreasing the pressure upon said resistance. and a relay directly responsive to the voltage across said battery adapted to control a circuit whereby an effective current is direc-ted through said voltage coil. e

20. In car light-ing apparatus. in combination. a generator having a shunt field winding` a storage battery connected to be charged thereby. a resistance medium op- :erat'ively connected with the field circuit of y n y said generator. means comprising a coil battery connected to be charged thereby. a

s'e'rially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein tending to increase. to so affect said resistance as to weaken the field of said generator and normally to maintain said current substantially constant, said resistance being normally free from other effective electrical infi-uence. a normally ineffective voltage coil adapted upon becoming effective to have a continuing cumulative action with said serially converted coil to control said generator current by acting on the resistance of the generator field circuit. and means directly responsive to the voltage across said battery adapted upon the voltage ofsaid battery attaining acertain value to render said voltage coil effective in controlling said generator current.

Q1. In car lighting apparatus. in combination. a generator having a shunt field winding. a storage battery connected to kbe charged thereby, a resistance medium operatively connected with the field circuit of said generator and comprising a-plurali-ty of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with the pressure thereon. means comprising a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein tending to increase to so vary the pressure upon said resistance as to weaken the generator field and normally vto maintain said current substantially constant. said resistance being normally `free from other effective electrical infiuence. a normally ineffective voltage coil positioned and adapted upon being energized to have a continuing cumulative effect with said current coil in affecting saidvariable resistance. and a relay directly responsive to the voltage across said battery adapted to control a circuit whereby an effective current is directed through said voltage coil.

22. In car lighting apparatus. in combination` a generator having a 'shunt field winding. a storage battery connected to be charged thereby. av resistance medium-operatively connected with the field circuit of said generatorl` means comprising a coil serially 'connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein tending to increase to so affect said' resistance as to weaken the generator field and maintain the generator current substantially constant, said resistance being normally free-from other effective electrical in# lgflu'ence, ay voltage coil adapted upon being rendered elective to have al continuing.l

cumulative action with saidv first coil in varying said resistance and means directly responsive to the voltage across said battery adapted to direct' an effective current through said voltage coil. y

23. In car lighting apparatusA` in combination, a generator having a shunt Iield winding, a storage battery connected to be charged thereby, a resistance medium op-l eratively connected wit-h the field circuit of said generator,y said medium comprising a plurality7 of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with pressure tlieieon,. means comprising a. coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upontlie current therein tending to increase to so effect said resistanceas to weaken the generator field -and maintain the generator current substantially constant, said resistance being normally free from other effective electrical influence, a normally ineffective voltage coil adapted upon being rendered leec-tive to have a continuing cumulative action with said first coill in controlling tliej piessure upon said variable resistance and a relay directly responsive to the voltage across said `battery adapted to divert an eii'ective current through said voltage coil.

y In witness whereof I-have hereunto sub-` scribed my name the presence of two@ 4 

